Wooden tank



A. W. ASHLEY WOODEN TANK Oct. 28, 1941'.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jn/vmbo@ Arthur W. Ashkag c (l d///I I 4 1t/www3 Filed Oct. 25, 1937 Oct. 28, 1941. A. w. ASHLEY WOODEN TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1937 gyn/um@ Arhur W. AshleH Patented ct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES i PATENT OFFICE 2,260,652` Y WooDENrrrANK l Arthur W. Ashley, Houston, Ten. Application October 25, 1937,l Serial No. 170,832 vl 6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wooden tanks. A

The usualwooden tank which is generally used for the storage of oil, water or other liquid is constructed of a plurality of vertical wooden staves which have their longitudinal edges abutting'each other and which are drawn together by suitable tie rods. Vertical liquid passages are ordinarily formed between the abutting edges of the staves and liquid is supplied to said passages to saturate the staves and thus prevent shrinkage thereof to obviate leakage, vThese vertical passages are located midway of the width ofthe stave, that is they are formed centrally within the longitudinal edge of the stave.

The interior of the tank so formed is, of course, filled with the stored liquid and the inner surface of the staves which form the tank issaturated at all times by this-liquid and no danger of shrinkage of this inner surface .is present. However, the outside or outer surfacev of the staves is exposed to the suns rays and atmosphere and it has been found that this outer surface is dried out because the liquid from the vertical passages between the staves is .insufficient to maintain this outer surface well saturated, particularly duringk the summer months when the atmospheric temperature is high.

As a result, the outer surfaces of the staves are dried out by sun and wind, while the rinner surfaces of said staves remain in a moistened-or saturated condition due to the liquid within the tank. The drying out of the outer surfaces of the staves causes a shrinkage inthe transverse width of the staves which causes the longitudinal abutting edges of said staves to separate or pull away from each other at their outer surfaces. Their longitudinal edges at the inner surface of the tank may remain in contact but the separation at the outer surface permits leak-age of the liquid from the vertical passages between the abutting edges with the result that the entire` stave is dried out and shrinks, thereby causing the tank to leak. A

It is, therefore, one object of ,this invention to provide an improved wooden tank which is constructed so that leakage of the liquid fromr the vertical passages between thefabutting staves is prevented, in the event that'the'outer surfaces of the tank staves is dried out and shrinks.

An important object of the vinvention is to provide an improved wooden tank wherein vertical liquid passages are formed between theabutting edges of the tank staves with means for conning the liquid within said passages so that (GLvv` 217-4),

a slight clearance between the staves will not permit escape of the liquid from lsaid grooves.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved tankv stave having a liquid receiv- 5 -ing passage infone longitudinal edg'e and having a groove adjacent the liquid receiving passage, whereby an insertable conning member may be inserted in said groove y'tol confine the liquid within the passage. f Y 1011.2 Another object of the invention-is vto provide an' improved stave havingV a -vertical groove in each longitudinal edgethereof with a liquid channel communicating with each groove; the grooves in each channel being alined'when the lstaves abut each other, whereby a single member may be inserted in the alined grooves of adjacent staves -to close theliquid channels of both staves and conne the liquid therein, the member also acting to connect the staves. v 205 A still further object of the invention is' to providea tank stave of an improved construction havingra groove with Aa liquid channelV communicating therewith in one longitudinal edge and having a projecting rib or tongue on itsL opposite Zlongitudinaly edge, whereby when the staves are placed togetherto form a tank, the rib of one stave engages within the groove of the adjacent` stave to confine the liquid Within the channel, regardless of the clearance between the abutting SOSd'ges of the staves.- f k A construction designed to carry out the in-k vention will be hereinafter described, ktogether with-other vfeatures of the invention. v

The inventionV will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein: `I Figure 1 is a partial isometric view of awooden 40 tank, made of staves, constructed inaccordance with the'invention,

Figure 2 is a' faceview of the inner surface of one'of the staves., Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional View, taken on the 11ne 3,-3 of Figure 2, l

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 4a is' `a sectional view of the joint between the staves, f

Figure 5'is ya partial isometrical view of one of the staves shownin Figures 2 to'4,

Figure 6 isr a partial transverse, sectional view of one of the staves, showing a modified vertical member or bar,

' inlet ports 2 Figure 12 is an end elevation of still anotherA form of stave,

Figure 13 is an elevation of the inner surface thereof,

Figure 14 is a transverse, vertical, sectional View taken on the line I4-I41of Figure 1`2, and

Figure is a view similar to Figure 11, showing the upper portion of the tank stave disclosed inFigures 12 to 14.

In the drawings, thejnumeral II) -designates the upper portion of a wooden tank which has its side composed of a plurality of upright or verticalstaves II. The longitudinal vertical edges of the staves abut each other in the usual manner and are held together by the usual tie rod I2; Each stave is constructed ofrelatively thick lumber and is provided with an uppercroze I3 for receiving the top I4 of the tank, while a lower croze I 5 is formed in the stave for receiving and supporting the bottom I6 of the tank (Figure 3).

Each stave has one longitudinal edge at, as is Yclearly shown in Figure 4, while a vertical groove I1 is formed in the opposite longitudinal edge. The groove II extends from the extreme upper end of the stave and terminates short of the lower end thereof at a point above the lower croze I5. The groove is preferably angular in cross-section and a reduced vertical channel I8 is formedin the stave and extendsinwardlyl from the base of the groove I'I. The groove I'I is adapted to receive a vertical'bar or member I9 which is substantially the same cross-sectional shape as said groove, whereby it has a snug t therein. The bar is preferably constructed of Wood and extends throughout the vertical length of the groove I1, as is clearly shown in Figure 4. Obviously, when the baror member I 9 is inserted within thegroove,I it closes or covers the open end of the channel I 8 whereby nelsVl have been moved inwardly of the staves so that they are not disposed at the junction or engagingedges of said staves. Therefore, if the outer surface of the tank wall is dried out due to atmospheric conditions and temperatures,

."Whiletheinner surface of said wall is maintained. in a saturated condition due to the liquid when liquid is introduced into said channel, it l is conned therein.y v g Horizontal passages 20 havelone u end 1communicating with the channel I8, while their opposite ends terminate short of the longitudinal edge of the staves. The passages'are disposed at spaced elevations throughout the staves. For introducing a liquid, which is preferably'wate'r,

into thechannels I8 and into the passages 20, whereby the staves'may'be saturated, vinlet ports 2| extend from the upper end of the channel I8.` The ports 2| communicatawith the tank above the top I4 of said tank whereby any liquid jretained-on said top may^flow`-through the I and into the 'channel and po'rts u I' l u I when the tankis assembled-Wahine staves 1 I,

the'flatlongitudinal edge ofl onestave abuts the bar or member I9 and the edge of-thefadjacentl stave, astisrclearly shown in Figure 1. Water or other liquid is=-stored on the* top I4 ofthe tanklandobviously, this water may `flow through stored within the tank, this outer surface would shrink 'the stavesand rtend; to separate theft same at the joints or abuttingfaces-thereof IrrsuchJv event, the abutting or engaging edgesof the staves at 1 their outer. surfaces. wouldV tend to' separate soas to provide a .slightspace or .:clearance -A therebetween. The action of the .staves'under the above co'nditions'is clearly Yshown in Figure la and as shown inthis iigure,rseparationilof the edges of the'stavesiat; theirioutensurfaces f would have no effect on the confinement of the liquid within the channels .1I 8|. because `said-channelsare closed by thetinsertable bars or. mem-L bers I9: .It has beenfthelpractice in the .cone

struction ofV tank staveswto provide the'y liquidi channels in the .edgeof ythe staves :and depend upon the abuttingzface Oredge ofthe adjacent stave to closezthe'liquid channel..` VIn such lcase.

a separationoftheengaginggfacesY of adjacent staves would permit a leakage' of thewateror When thisoccurred,

the entire.- staVef-would dry out, resulting in a liquid from 'the channel.

leakage Aof the liquid vstored within y the tank.-

These disadvantages, present in theusual `type of rconstruction, are overcome by-the stave dis-- closed herein. There is no possibility offthe insertable bar or ymember- I9 *becoming dried outA which. would resultin it shrinking because xthe liquid within the vchannel I8 fmaintainsthesame i in :a saturated condition. Sincethe -bar'lis located atisubstantially theI central portion-of the stavelalongone edge thereofg-the wea-ther condiHIV tions cannot effect the' same andythereforetheliquid is conned, at-all times, within Ythe char1V i With such structure, the staves.v I IY may separateat.v their outer surfaces without resulting in a leakage of the liquid which nel I8 and passagesl 28;

is stored within thetank; r

rods I2, no separation of the faces-'occurs-lbeyond saidl tiefrods.r`

the end -ofltheibarand theend'of the-groove (Figures V6 and9)3 Noescape' ofV liquid'can 'oc^ cur at this.4 point -becausetheabutting edges of the -staves-will-not separate ati their lower ends. In -other words, -the separation I' of thev edges vof l the stavesf-occursat the centralr por-A f tion: off.; the L-tank-ibetween fthe --tie rods* I2 andy;

Therefore',--if 'desiredythe barv I9 maybe-:terminatedaboveithe lowerlend` of the` groove IIwherebyraspace- 22" is Aleft between hasv a tendency to shrink.

Aniodii'ied-v form of stave staveII with theexception that thegroover I1 and .theichannel I8. arelprovided in each edge of the staveiristead of in only one edge thereof. With such 1 arrangement', the assembling of the tank causes the grooves I1 of adjacent staves to be alined with each other as is clearly shown in Figure 10. An insertable bar or member 23, having a cross-sectional shape substantially the same as the combined cross-sectional shape of the alined grooves I1, is inserted into said grooves. The member 23 closes the open ends of the liquid channels I8 in the adjacent staves and serves the same purpose as the single bar I9.

In the forms shown in Figures 1 to 6, there is no communication between the individual stavesV I I, each stave being supplied with water through its individual inlet port 2|. In some instances, and particularly where the bar 23 is not flush with the end of the stave, it might be desirable to establish a liquid communication between the lower ends of all of the staves which comprise the tank. In such case, the modified form of stave II is provided with a cross duct 22 at the' lower end of the liquid channel I8 and this passage is formed by boring through the stave. The bars or member 23 terminate short of the ducts, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 1l, whereby the space 22' is formed between the end of each bar and the lower end of the grooves I1. Thus, when the staves II are secured together to form the tank, the cross ducts 22 of the staves are alined with each other to form a continuous passage around the lower end of the tank. It is pointed out that the space 22 between the lower end of the bar 23 and the end of each groove I1 is closed by the abutting face of the adjacent stave, whereby the liquid within the channel I8 cannot escape from said channel. Instead of the short cross passages 20, the staves II are provided with inclined passages 20 which extend from the channel I8.

Still another form of stave 25 is disclosed in Figures 12 to 15. This stave is constructed in substantially the same manner as the stave II.

shown in Figures l to 4, except that instead of a hat surface along one edge of the stave, an elongate vertical rib or tongue 26 is formed.

This tongue has substantially the same cross sectional shape as the groove I1 but has a length less than the vertical length ccf the groove. When the staves are assembled to form the tank, the tongue 26 of one stave engages in the groove I'I"v is shownvinV lige,4 t ures 'l to .ll'andt this stave is very similar to ther separation of `the staves isnot possible. By tapping into the Vlower end of' the liquid channel I8, or into the duct 22, all the water may be drained fromthe channeland passages v to permit the bars 23 or. ribs"26 to dry out'and therebyallow separation `of the staves.y 1 f g In, all forms, theV vertical liquid channels I8 are' locatedateaLpointspacedairom .the edge of the-stave andarenot .disposed at the junction between the staves. Suitable insertable members close the longitudinal open end of the channels and act to confine the liquid therein, irrespective of the spacing between the abutting or engaging faces of the staves. Therefore, the liquid is trapped within the liquid channels and cannot escape therefrom due to a slight separation of the abutting edges of the staves. It is pointed out that although it is desirable to construct the groove I1 of a greater Width than the liquid channel I8, it is not essential to do so as it would be possible to make a single groove in the longitudinal edge of the stave and insert the member I9 in the outer portion thereof, whereby the space between the inner surface of the member and the base of such grooves would form the liquid channel.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tank stave having onel longitudinal edge flat and having its opposite longitudinal edge grooved with a liquid channel formed in the stave and communicating with the groove, and an insertable member within the groove and covering the channel to trap liquid therein.

2. A tank stave having one longitudinal edge grooved with a liquid channel formed in the stave and communicating with the groove, and an insertable member Within the groove and covering the channel to trap liquid therein.

3. A tank including, a plurality of upright staves joined in the tank wall, each stave having a longitudinal-groove along one of the abutting faces of each joint and provided with a liquid channel at. the bottom of the groove, and separate means disposed longitudinally in each groove overlying the channel thereof to trap liquid therein and provide the tank with upright mois- I1 of the adjacent stave and as shown, the space 22 is formed between the end of the tongue andv The stave 25 is alsol the bottom of the groove. provided with the cross ducts 22 and inclined passages 20 shown in Figures '1 to 11. It will be manifest that the rib 26 takes the place of the insertable bars I9 and 23 in the other forms and functions in the same manner. It is noted that in the forms shown in Figures '1 to 1l and 12 to 15, the bar 23 and the rib 26 also act to hold the adjacent staves together, as well as to conne the liquid within the liquid channel I8. It is pointed out that the passages 20' are inclined in those forms wherein the bar 23 engages both grooves of adjacent staves and also where the rib 26 on one stave engages the groove of the adjacent stave. In these forms, it is obvious that so long as the bar 23 or rib 26 is saturated,

ture joints.

4. A tank including, a plurality of staves having their longitudinal edges abutting each other to form a-tank wall, the staves having crozes in their upper and lower ends for receiving and supporting the top and bottom ofthe tank, each stave having a longitudinal groove along one of the abutting faces of each joint and provided with a liquid channel `at the bottom of the groove, kand separate means engaging within the groove for forming a closure. for said channel to trap yliquid therein and prevent leakage therefrom in the event that separation of the abutting edges of the staves occurs.

5. A tank including, a plurality of staves having their longitudinal edges abutting each other to form a tank wall, the staves having crozes in their upper and lower ends for receiving and supporting the top and bottom of the tank, each stave having` a longitudinal vgroove along one of the abutting faces of each joint and provided with a liquid channel at the bottom ofthe groove,

separate means engaging within the groove for forming a closure for said channel to trap liquid therein and prevent leakage therefrom in the event thatseparation of the abutting edgesof the staves occurs, the top of the tank being spaced from the top of the staves whereby a liquid reservoir is formedrfon said .111013,11 and fmeanssforx: supplying ythe Yliquidsfrom.- said :reservoir yi,;r..f.tl1e:;. channel: v t

6. A tank includingsa plurality; of ystaves havs-k,V ing longitudinal aedges abuttngach'; other: tos`5 t form a, tank wall, the stavesihavingrcrozessini; their upper and lower ends-'for receiving:andup-` porting thetop and: bottomrrvofntheatankyieach': stave having. a longitudinal groclvefy along onesof the` :abutting facesI of ffeachf joint. and vprovided with a. liquid ichannelat' the bottom 'ofthe groove, and separate means engaging*within-thergroove forforming-a closure for said channel'fto trap liquid therein-and prevent `leakage;therefrom' in the -event thatv separation iof` 'the -abutting vedges ofathe staves" 'occursand- .also ihorzontal cross,-

passagescommunicating with the channel.vr

ARTHUR ASHLEY.'` 

